Man City star becomes first English player to join Barcelona since Gary Lineker

Posted: 7/07/2017 09:09

It’s not often that English footballers move abroad, and even more rare are moves to top European sides.

David Beckham was until recently the last English international to move to one of Spain’s top two sides, but now he has company in the form of Toni Duggan.

Man City star becomes first English player to join Barcelona since Gary Lineker

The 25-year-old Manchester City Ladies star and England international winger was today confirmed as the first English player since Gary Lineker to join Barcelona, agreeing a two-year deal with their women’s team FC Barcelona Femeni.

Duggan, who has 15 goals in 47 caps for the England women’s team, joins the Catalan side after an impressive spell at City which saw her become the first woman in the club’s history to win 2014/15 Goal of the Season award.

Speaking after the transfer was confirmed, Duggan expressed excitement at the move.

"FC Barcelona for me is the biggest club in the world and I wanted to come here and be part of it. I have had many successes in England and I want to have more."
Judging by the stunning quality of the volley which won her the award, FCB Femeni have got their hands on a player worthy of wearing the historic jersey.
Duggan will also get a chance to show Barca what to expect when she and the rest of the England women’s team compete at Euro 2017 in the Netherlands in under two weeks time.

With England going into the tournament as the world’s third highest-ranked European side, there’s every chance Duggan could begin her career in Catalonia as a European champion.